Report launch: Increased allocation needed to improve basic healthcare
Low expenditure on pre and post-natal care responsible for high rate of fatalities.
The overall budget allocation for the health sector is low as the percentage of GDP has never exceeded 0.7 per cent. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan stands out not only for its high level of maternal and infant mortality rate but also for high levels of health inequalities.
The overall budget allocation for the health sector is low as the percentage of GDP has never exceeded 0.7 per cent. Besides, a major chunk of the budget — 71.75 per cent-- is spent on specialised hospitals and curative care, leaving few resources for primary healthcare facilities.
This was the crux of a report on “Equity Issues in Public Spending on Mother, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Pakistan,” launched by the Research and Advocacy Fund on Monday at a local hotel.
Dr Sadia Mariam Malik, principal investigator of the study and a lecturer at York University, Toronto said, “Health-related expenditure shocks are the most common ones experienced by the poor in Pakistan.
A sudden illness, accident or medical emergency can push many families —especially those who do not have any assets to fall back upon— below the poverty line.”
She said the basic health units (BHUs) were in deplorable condition lacking trained doctors, staff and equipment due to which the poor were unable to seek better treatment, adding that the government was spending but a meagre amount on MNCH, resulting in a high rate of maternal and infant mortality rate.
The study, completed in a year and a half was conducted using the latest Pakistan Standard of Living Measurements Survey. It reveals that less than 0.1 per cent is allocated for MNCH-related services out of the hospitals’ budget.
The study found that around 72 per cent of the total health expenditure is financed by private sources, whereas the remaining expenditure is funded by the government and international development partners. This feature of healthcare finance puts many families, especially those belonging to marginalised groups, in a vulnerable position.
Speaking at the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was among the top ten countries in health inequalities. “If we do not invest in improving the health of mothers, infants and children, we won’t get anywhere. It will also have serious implications on economic development,” he said.
The report calls for an immediate increase in overall budgetary allocations for health, efficiency and equality in public health sectors spending to promote equity in regional allocation of public health resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
Pakistan stands out not only for its high level of maternal and infant mortality rate but also for high levels of health inequalities.
The overall budget allocation for the health sector is low as the percentage of GDP has never exceeded 0.7 per cent. Besides, a major chunk of the budget — 71.75 per cent-- is spent on specialised hospitals and curative care, leaving few resources for primary healthcare facilities.
This was the crux of a report on “Equity Issues in Public Spending on Mother, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Pakistan,” launched by the Research and Advocacy Fund on Monday at a local hotel.
Dr Sadia Mariam Malik, principal investigator of the study and a lecturer at York University, Toronto said, “Health-related expenditure shocks are the most common ones experienced by the poor in Pakistan.
A sudden illness, accident or medical emergency can push many families —especially those who do not have any assets to fall back upon— below the poverty line.”
She said the basic health units (BHUs) were in deplorable condition lacking trained doctors, staff and equipment due to which the poor were unable to seek better treatment, adding that the government was spending but a meagre amount on MNCH, resulting in a high rate of maternal and infant mortality rate.
The study, completed in a year and a half was conducted using the latest Pakistan Standard of Living Measurements Survey. It reveals that less than 0.1 per cent is allocated for MNCH-related services out of the hospitals’ budget.
The study found that around 72 per cent of the total health expenditure is financed by private sources, whereas the remaining expenditure is funded by the government and international development partners. This feature of healthcare finance puts many families, especially those belonging to marginalised groups, in a vulnerable position.
Speaking at the occasion, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was among the top ten countries in health inequalities. “If we do not invest in improving the health of mothers, infants and children, we won’t get anywhere. It will also have serious implications on economic development,” he said.
The report calls for an immediate increase in overall budgetary allocations for health, efficiency and equality in public health sectors spending to promote equity in regional allocation of public health resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.